Valve structure



July 17, 1956 w, RAY 2,754,846

VALVE STRUCTURE Filed June 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 72 I 67 ,x/ v 361:2,

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ATTOQ/IEX July 17, 1956 w. A. RAY

VALVE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1952 //v VEN 7'02,MLL/AM 4 PA Y 77/15 Will/(ONLY) LOOK/N6 up.

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ATTOiQ/YEK United States Patent VALVE STRUCTURE William A. Ray, NorthHollywood, Calif., assignor to General- Controls C0., Glendale, Calif.,a corporation of California Application June 16, 1952, Serial No.293,813 18 Claims. (Cl. 137614.17)

My present invention relates to valve structures, and more particularlyto such structures which include a main closure-member and supplementalor safety closure means, as well as means responsive to a condition(such as temperature or pressure) external of the valve structure for socontrolling the operation of the safety closure means that in the eventof establishment of an abnormal degree of said condition the safetyclosure means is operated to effect shut-off of flow through thestructure.

This invention relates still more specifically to valve structures ofthe character described and wherein the main closure member has apassage therethrough for establishing communication between the inletand the outlet of the valve structure; the most common examples of suchvalve structures being the rotary plug valve, and the disk valve whosepassaged' closure has a flat surface slidabl e on a' flat surface of thevalve casing.

A main object of this invention is to arrange the safety closure meansso that it is carried by the main closure member and cooperates with thepassage therein.

Another object. of the invention is to construct and arrange the mainclosure member so that when the same is in flow-obstructing position thepassage therein is isolated from the fluid in the system controlled bythe valve structure, and the" safety closure means can therefore beremoved from the closure member for repair or replacement withoutaffecting the system in any way.

Another object is to provide, in combination witha rotatable mainclosure member, safety closure means which-also-is rotatable to controlflow through the closuremember passage.

Another object is to provide novel means for resetting the-safetyclosure means to open position.

Another object is to' provide means whereby the safety closure meanscanreadily be removed from the closure member when. the same is inclosed position;

For'full: understanding of the invention, and further 7 appreciation ofits objects and advantages, reference is to' be: had to the followingdetailed description and accompanyingdrawing, and to the appendedclaims;

In the drawing:

Figure: 1'. is a sectional view of a valve structure em bodyingthisinvention; the main closure member, or plug 14, and the safety closuremeans, comprising disk 72, both being: shown in: open position;

Figure-2 is a fragmentary sectional safety closure disk in closedposition;

Figures 3, 4- and5 are transverse sections taken gen erally along thelines3--3, 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig.- 1; the section of Fig. 4,only, upward direction;

Figure 6 is a view of the top of cap 23; and

Figure 7 adiagrammatic view, from above, showing the means foraccess tothe safety closure disk when the plugis intclosedposition.

Referring, now more particularly to the drawing, the: numeral 11indicates a valve casing having andnlet opening 12 and an outlet opening13; the casing being formed view showing the being viewed inaninternally to provide a tapered seat or cavity for a correspondinglytapered main closure memberor' plu'g114. The plug 14 has a transversepassage 15 thereth-r'ough which, in the position of the plug as showninthe drawing, is in register with the inner ends 12 and 13" of the inletand outlet openings; the plug being rotatable on. its seat through to analternate position wherein theplug+ passage 15 is isolated from both oftheopening=ehds 12', 13', and flow through the casing is obstructed. Atits top the plug 14-hasa cylindrical stem 16 fitting. in an openingthrough the top wall 17 of the casing; a tubular extension 18 of thewall 17 providing an annular space around the plug-stem, in which spaceis a spring 19, bearing against a snap-ring 20 on the stern, which urgesthe-plug upwardly against its seat; a conventional seal or packing+ ring21 being provided around the upper portion of the stem. At the inlet ofthe casing is an opening 22' which serves as a connection for a pilotburner in the event that the valve structure is employed-for supplyinggaseous fuel to a main burner.

At the top of the structure is an inverted cup-shaped cap 23 having initstop wall a square opening which fits the squared-extremity 24 of theplug-stem; the side wall of the cap=fitting freely on theextension 18andbeingheld thereon by apin 25 cooperating with a circumferential groove:in theextension. Extending laterally from the cap 23 is a handle 26whereby,.through the cap and'plug stem, the plug 14 can'berotatedbetweenits alternate controlling positions; rotation ofthe plugbeinglimit'ed to an angleof slightly more than 90 by portions 27 and 28at the bottomof: the side wall of cap 23 which are engageable with apairof lugs 29 and 30*projecting from the top ofthe casing, as can be seenin Fig. 3; the portions 27 and 28 also being shown in that figure bybroken lines-in their moved positions.

Atits bottom the casing 11 is hollow and provides a compartment 31 belowthe plugwl4 In this compartment and projecting generally centrally fromthe bottom of the plugis a boss 32 whereon apair of intermeshed gears 33and3'4 is mounted. The gear 33 is rotatable on a pin 35 coaxial with theplug and pressed in an opening in the boss-32 The other gear 34 issecured to a rod 36- which freely fits a bore 37 inclined at'an-angle of15 to the axis of the plug and extendingthrough the'boss to the plug:passage 15'. A strap 38 below the gears, and attachedto the lower end ofpin 35, holds the gears in place.

Tightly clamped atone end to the shank of gear 33 is an arm 39 which isurged in a direction toward the viewer as seen in Fig; 1 by the force ofa coiledband' spring 41) secured at one end to a projection 41 of plug14', and at its other end to a pin 42 projecting from arm 39. It is to"be understood that the force ofspring 40-is insufficient to effectrotation of the plug.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the arm 39 is-held stationary due to theengagement" of its outer end with. a latching member 43' secured to theupper end of a vertical rod 44 fitting freely in an opening through aboss 45 on aplate or cover 46 which is sealinglyclamped to the openbottom end' of the casing 11; there being conventional packing means(not shown) inside boss 45, and cornpressedby ag'land nut 47,forpreventingleakage around rod 44.

Depending integrally from the cover 46at'its peripheryis a skirt 48which forms'below'the cover a compartment 49*whiehis closedat'its'bottom by a plate 50. Mounted in this'compartment'isanelectromagnet 51 (-s'ee'Fig 5), comprising a U-shaped core 52 and ac'oil53", whieh'co operateswith an armature 54-carriedby on'e end o'f anar m 55- which is clamped at its other end to'the lower end of rod 44;;the armature being mounted onthe arm,- in conventional manner sothat'its surface=can conform exactly to the pole faces of the core. Theleads 56 of the electromagnet extend through an opening in plate 50 forconnection in a suitable electric circuit which may include an A. C.rectifier 57 and a dropping resistor 58 (Fig. mounted within a housing59 which is clamped at its top by a channeled ring 60 to acircumferential projection of skirt 48. At the left of the housing 59 isa junction box 61 having an opening 62 for a wiring cable.

The circuit of electromagnet 51 is adapted to be controlled by means,external of and remote from the valve structure, responsive to acondition such as temperature or pressure; the condition responsivemeans being arranged to effect energization of the electromagnet whilethe condition is normal, but to effect its deenergization in the eventof establishment of an abnormal degree of the condition.

The parts are shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 in the positions assumed whileelectromagnet 51 is energized and after the arms 39 and 55 have beenreset to these positions; the arm 55 being held, due to the attractionof armature 54 by core 52 and against the force of bias spring 63 (Fig.5), in a position wherein a beveled portion 64 of the latching means 43is in engagement with the beveled end of arm 39 so that movement of thatarm under the influence of spring 40 is prevented. To reduce wear, theengaging portions of the latching means and arm 39 are tipped withtungsten carbide alloy, as indicated at 65.

If the electromagnet 51 is deenergized the arm 55 is released and movesunder the force of its bias in a direction toward the viewer as seen inFig. 1 into engagement with a stop-pin 66 (Fig. 5); the arm 39, thenbeing unlatched, moving under the force of spring 40 in a directiontoward the viewer as seen in Fig. 1, this movement of arm 39 beingarrested by a stop member 67 (Fig. 4) welded to the skirt 68 of plug 14.The movement of arm 39, when unlatched, causes counterclockwise rotationof gear 33 and clockwise rotation of gear 34 and rod 36 (as viewed fromabove) through an angle of 90.

To reset the arms 39 and 55 (and gears 33, 34) to their previouspositions, the plug 14 is rotated by means of handle 26 in clockwisedirection as viewed from above. When, by this rotation of the plug, thearm 39 (in engagement with stop member 67 carried by the plug) has beenmoved through slightly less than 90, its beveled surface 69 (Fig. 4)engages a pin 70 projecting from the latching member 43; continuedmovement of arm 39 effecting, through pin 70, rotation of the latchingmember and rod 44 such that the arm 55 is rocked, against the force ofits bias, to a position wherein its armature 54 is in contact with theelectromagnet core 52. If the electromagnet is then in energizedcondition, the arms 39 and 55 will be retained in the positions shown inFigs. 1, 4 and 5 when the plug is returned to its previous position. Inthe event that the electromagnet is not energized, the resultantmovement of arm 55 (under the force of its bias) as the plug is returnedwill render the latching member ineifective to hold arm 39. p Thegear-rod 36 has a reduced extension 36 which extends through theplug-passage 15, centrally thereof, into a conforming opening in the topwall of that passage; a portion of the rod-extension within that openingbeing grooved for an elastic sealing-ring or O-ring 71. Mounted on therod-extension 36' within the passage 15 is a disk 72 having an elongatedbore 73 (see Fig. 2) at an angle of 15 to the plane of the disk andfitting the rod-extension; the disk being locked to the rod-extension asby a set-screw 74.

The rim or edge of disk 72 is grooved for a ring 75, of elastic materialsuch as rubber, which, when the disk is transverse to the passage 15 asshown in Fig. 2, is compressed into sealing engagement with thecylindrical wall of that passage. A seal 76 of the O-ring type isprovided around a portion of the rod-extension 36' within bore 73 toprevent leakage through that bore between opposite sides of disk 72 whenthe same is in the position of Fig. 2.

At its top the rod-extension 36 has a slot-and-tongue connection with arod 77 which extends upwardly through a vertical opening 73 to a pointslightly above the top of the plug-stem 16; a guide bushing 79 for rod77 being provided at the upper end of the opening. On top of rod 77, andwithin a shallow recess 80 in the top surface of cap 23, is an indicatorsegment 81; this recess being covered by a plate 82 having a window 83.A light spring 84 serves to maintain operative connection between rods77 and 36. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the segment 81 bears the legendsOpen and Shut; the legend Open, visible through window 83 in Fig. 6,indicating the present flow-controlling position of disk 72.

The flow-controlling position of plug 14 is indicated by a pointer 85,on the lower end of cap 23, which cooperates with legends (not shown) onthe valve casing. Vents 86 and 87 are provided in the plug to equalizefluid pressure above and below it.

In the diagrammatic view of Pig. 7 means are disclosed whereby the disk72 can be removed, as for replacement of its sealing ring 75. Thesemeans comprise covers 88 and 89 threadedly mounted in the outer ends ofopenings 90 and 91 in casing 11. When the plug 14 is in closed positionthe openings 90 and 91 are in register with the plug-passage 15. Toremove the disk, one or both of the covers 88 and 89 is unthreaded andthe set-screw 74 loosened. The plate 46, covering the bottom of thevalve casing, is then removed. By disconnecting strap 38 the gear 34,together with rod 36 and its extension 36, can be withdrawn; the disk 72then being free for removal through one of the openings 90, 91.

As is clear from the previous description of the operation of arms 39and 55 and gears 33 and 34, the supplemental or safety closure meansconstituted by disk 72 is retained in open position while theelectromagnet 51 is energized and the plug 14 is in open position. Inthe event of deenergization of the electromagnet and resultantunlatching of arm 39 the safety closure disk 72 is rotated to closepassage 15 (this condition being indicated in Fig. 2) under the force ofspring 40; the indicator segment 81 moving to display the legend Shut.

When the plug is rotated to closed position the disk 72 also is rotated(gear 34 rolling on stationary gear 33) to its passage-closing position,and in the return movement of the plug toward open position the disk isconcurrently opened; it being assumed that arm 39 is latched. Rotationof the disk is always in the same direction as that of the plug; thedisk moving through 90 relative to the plug, and through relative to thevalve casing, in the rotation of the plug between its alternate(open-closed) controlling positions. In the event that while the plug isopen the disk has moved to passageclosing position in response todeenergization of the electromagnet, the disk will remain stationaryrelative to the plug while the same is rotated to reset the latchingmeans. If the latching means were released while the plug were closed,the disk would remain in closed position when the plug was subsequentlyopenedunless the latching means was first reset by movement of the plugthrough a small angle (5) beyond its closed position, as previouslydescribed.

In its broader phases this invention comprehends the use of safetyclosure means of a type other than of the butterfly type disclosed inthe drawing, such as another plug rotatable within the main plug tocontrol flow through the main-plug passage; or means of the typecomprising a gate reciprocable transversely to the plugpassage andwithdrawable into an opening in one end of the plug.

The specific embodiment of my invention herein shown and described isobviously susceptible of modification without departing from the spiritof the invention, and I intend therefore to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a valve structure: a valve casing having an inlet and an outletopening; a closure member movable between alternate controllingpositions relative to said casing and having a passage therethrough;said inlet and outlet openings each having an end extending to saidclosure member; said opening-ends and said passage being so arrangedthat when the closure member is in one of said positions communicationis established between said inlet and outlet openings by Way of saidpassage, and when the closure member is in the other of said positionsboth of said opening-ends are closed by the closure member; supplementalclosure means in said closure member passage and movable to open andclose said passage; and means operated by movement of said closuremember for efiecting corresponding movement of said supplemental closuremeans, the arrangement being such that when the closure member is insaid other of its controlling positions the supplemental closure meansis in passage-closing position.

2. In a valve structure: a valve casing having an inlet and an outletopening; a closure member movable between alternate controllingpositions relative to saidcasing and having a passage therethrough; saidinlet and outlet openings each having an end extending to said closuremember; said opening-ends and said passage being so arranged that whenthe closure member is in one of said positions communication isestablished between said inlet and outlet openings by way of saidpassage, and when the closure member is in the other of said posi tionsboth of said opening-ends are closed by the closure member; safetyclosure means in said closure-member passage and movable to open andclose said passage; means biasing said safety closure means to closedposition; means operated by movement of said closure member for movingsaid safety closure means to open position; and means responsive to acondition external of the valve structure for then maintaining thesafety closure means open while said condition is normal and the closuremember is in said one position.

3. A valve structure as defined in claim 2, and including means sointerconnecting said closure member and said safety closure means, andcooperating with said condition responsive means, that movement of theclosure member to said one position efiects said movement of the safetyclosure means to open position While said condition is normal.

4. A valve structure as defined in claim 2, and wherein at least aportion of said closure-member passage is cylindrical, and said safetyclosure means comprises a disk rotatable in said passage-portion toeffect sealing engagement between the rim of the disk and the wall ofthe passage-portion.

5. In a valve structure: a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet inalignment; a closure member movable between alternate controllingpositions relative to said casing and having a linear passagetherethrough adapted to establish communication between said inlet andoutlet when the closure member is in one of said positions, the closuremember being effective when moved to its other position to obstructcommunication between said inlet and outlet; safety closure means insaid closure-member passage and movable to open and close said passage;means biasing said safety closure means to closed position; meansoperated by movement of said closure member for moving said safetyclosure means to open position; and means responsive to a conditionexternal of the valve structure for then maintaining the safety closuremeans open while said condition is normal and the closure member is insaid one position.

6. A valve structure as defined in claim 5, and including means sointerconnecting said closure member and said safety closure means, andcooperating with said condition responsive means, that movement of theclosure 6 member to said one position eflects said movement of thesafety closure means to" open position while said condition is normal.

7. A valve structure as defined in claim 5, and wherein at least aportion of said closure-member passage is cylindrical, and said safetyclosure means comprises a disk rotatablev in said passage-portion toeffect sealing engagement between the rim of the disk and the wall ofthe passage-portion.

8. In a valve structure: a valve casing; a closure member comprising aplug seated in a conforming cavity in said casing; said casing having aninlet opening and an outlet opening each extending to said cavity; saidplug having a passage therethrough adapted, when the plug is in onecontrolling position, to register with said open ings and establishcommunication therebetween, said plug being rotatable on its seat toanother position wherein said passage is out of communication with saidopenings; safety closure means in said plug-passage and movable to openand close said passage; means biasing said safety closure means toclosed position; means operated by rotation of said plug for moving saidsafety closure means to open position; and means responsive to acondition external of the valve structure for then maintaining saidsafety closure means in open position while said condition is normal andsaid plug is in said one position.

9. A valve structure as defined in claim 8, and including means sointerconnecting said plug and said safety closure means, and cooperatingwith said condition responsive means, that movement of the plug to saidone position effects movement of the safety closure means to openposition while said condition is normal.

10. A valve structure as defined in claim 8, and wherein at least aportion of said plug passage is cylindrical, and said safety closuremeans comprises a disk rotatable in said passage-portion to effectsealing engagement between the rim of the disk and the wall of thepassage-portion.

11. A valve structure as defined in claim 8, and wherein said safetyclosure means is rotatable relative to said plug to open and close saidplug-passage.

12. A valve structure as defined in claim 8, and wherein said safetyclosure means is rotatable relative to said plug generally on the axisof the plug to open and close said plug-passage.

13. In a valve structure: a valve casing; a closure member comprising aplug seated in a conforming cavity in said casing; said casing having aninlet opening and an outlet opening each extending to said cavity; saidplug having a passage therethrough adapted, when the plug is in onecontrolling position, to register with said openings and establishcommunication therebetween, said plug being rotatable on its seat toanother position wherein said passage is out of communication with saidopenings; supplemental closure means in said plug-passage and movable toopen and close said passage; and means forming, between saidsupplemental closure means and said casing, a connection such thatrotation of said plug between its flow-controlling positions effectsmovement of said supplemental closure means relative to the plug betweencorresponding flow-controlling positions relative to the plug passage.

14. A valve structure as defined in claim 13, and including meansresponsive to a condition external of the valve structure formaintaining said connection elfective only while said condition isnormal.

15. In a valve structure: a valve casing; a closure member comprising aplug seated in a conforming cavity in said casing; said casing having aninlet opening and an outlet opening each extending to said cavity; saidplug having a passage therethrough adapted, when the plug is in onecontrolling position, to register with said openings and establishcommunication therebetween, said plug being rotatable on its seat toanother position wherein said passage is out of communication with saidopenings; safety closure means in said plug-passage and rotatable rela-'7 tive to the plug to open and close said passage; means biasing saidsafety closure means to passage-closing position; means forming, betweensaid safety closure means and said casing, a connection such thatrotation of said plug between its flow-controlling positions effectsrotation of said safety closure means between correspondingflow-controlling positions; and means responsive to a con-- ditionexternal of the valve structure for maintaining said connectioneffective only while said condition is normal.

16. A valve structure as defined in claim 15, and wherein saidconnection-forming means comprises means mounted on said plug forrotation generally about the axis thereof.

17. In a valve structure: a valve casing; a closure member comprising aplug seated in a conforming cavity in said casing; said casing having aninlet opening and an outlet opening each extending to said cavity; saidplug having a passage therethrough adapted, when the plug is in onecontrolling position, to register with said openings and establishcommunication therebetween, said plug being rotatable on its seat toanother position wherein said passage is out of communication with saidopenings; safety closure means in said plug-passage and rotatablerelative to the plug, generally on the axis of the plug, to open andclose said passage; means biasing said safety closure means topassage-closing position; a member rotatably mounted on said plugcoaxially therewith and operatively connected to said safety closuremeans; and

means responsive to a condition external of the valve structure andeffective, only while said condition is normal, to hold said memberstationary relative to said casing so that rotation of said plug theneffects rotation of the member and of said safety closure means relativeto the plug; the arrangement being such that, while said condition isnormal, rotation of the plug to said one position effects rotation ofthe safety closure means to passageopening position.

18. A valve structure as defined in claim 17, and wherein at least aportion of said plug-passage is cylindrical, and said safety closuremeans comprises a disk rotatable in said passage-portion to effectsealing engagement between the rim of the disk and the wall of thepassageportion.

Rcfcrences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,019,590 Beck Mar. 5, 1912 1,106,594 Tcherniakofsky Aug. 11, 19141,656,355 Huffman Jan. 17, 1928 1,848,176 Jernberg Mar. 8, 19322,032,352 Glade Mar. 3, 1936 2,142,970 Anderson Jan. 3, 1939 2,556,337Paille June 12, 1951 2,589,573 Ray Mar. 18, 1952

